Combination seat attachment and life preserver



Feb. 27, 1962 v, HULTQUIST 3,022,524

COMBINATION SEAT ATTACHMENT AND LIFE PRESERVER Filed Nov. 10, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 27, 1962 J. v. HULTQUIST 3,022,524

COMBINATION SEAT ATTACHMENT AND LIFE PRESERVER Filed Nov. 10, 1960 2 SheetsSheet 2 Jon/v KHz/4761:1157 W K 455/7 firraexxe/ United States Patent 3,022,524 COMBINATIQN SEAT ATTACHMENT AND LIFE PRESERVER v John V. Hultquist, 1995 Duluth St., St. Paul, Minn. Filed Nov. 10, 1960, Ser. No. 68,487 3 Claims. (Cl. 9312) The present invention relates to a combination seat attachment and life preserver for backless seating boards a and the like, such as are generally found on small boats and other aquatic craft and which ordinarily serve as seats therefor.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a combination seat attachment and lie preserver for backless seats and the like which will readily and automatically detach itself from the seat on which it is mounted upon submerging of the seat and therea'ter will stay with the user of the attachment; another objzct is to provide a convertible life preserv ng seat attachment which naturally positions itself in life preserving position to buoyantly support the user or wearer thereof in water forwardly as well as rearwardly of the wearers body to maintain the face of the wearer clear of the water surface for ordinary breathing even in the event of unconsciousness; another object of the invention is to provide a seat attachment automatically convertible to a life pre server which may be further adjusted to better perform its life preserving function after the user thereof is in the water and without danger of becoming separated from the user.

Since the combination seat attachment and life preserver of thIs invention is designed primarily for use with aquatic craft where storage bulk is undesirable, it is another advantage that the attachment is foldable for storage into a relatively small area when not in use. It is also advantageous that the attachment is readily mounted on and demounted from backless seat boards and serves greatly to add to the comfort and convenience of passengers by providing them with soft, comfortable back and arm rests.

The foregoing as well as other objects and advantages which will become apparent as the description proceeds are achieved through the use of the combination seat attachment and life preserver of this invention.

The attachment of this invention comprises a seat back and arms carried on a supporting structure with the supporting structure including means for demountably mounting the attachment on a broad-like seat. The seat back includes buoyant means to provide buoyant support across the back of the user when used as a life preserver and the arms include buoyant rest portions forwardly of the seat back to provide buoyant support forwardly of the chest of the user when used as a life preserver. 7

Preferably, the attachment is so constructed that the buoyant portions of the arms are disposed considerably forwardly of and spaced from the seat back, being swingably attached to the supporting structure of the attachment a distance forwardly of the seat back for upward swinging movement to a l fe preserving position forward ly of the shoulders of the user. Conveniently, the buoyant portions of the arms may partially overlie the chest of the body of the user, extending sufficiently sideways toward one another so that they may partially overlie 3,022,524 Patented Feb. 27, 1962 the body of the seat attachment user even when in their arm rest position to facilitate positioning of the attachment as a life preserver in the event the necessity arises.

In the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment is illustrated wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the seat attachment mounted on a board-like seat ready for use;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the seat attachment per se in its mounting position;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the attachment;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the attachment folded for storage; and,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective v'ew of the seat attachment converted to a life preserver and supporting a wearer in the water.

Referring now to the accompanying drawingsin detail, like numerals will be utilized throughout to designate like parts. The combination seat attachment and l fe preserver is designated in its entirety by the numeral 10. 7

Referring first to FIGURE 1 it will be observed that the combination seat attachment and life preserver 10 is mounted on a seat board or the like 12 (illustrated in dotted outline). The attachment 10 comprises a back rest 14, arms 16 and a back and arm rest supporting structure 18..

' Theaback rest and arm supporting structure 18 comprises a back rest supporting structure comprising upr ghts 20 extending upwardly from the rearward ends of the base structure composed of horizontal base members 22 which'enable readily demountable mounting of the attachment 19 on a backless seat board 12 To enable such mounting, the flat, horizontal base members 22 are provided at their forward ends with simple hooked ends 24 or the like which simply hook over the forward edge of the seat member 12. Of course, more elaborate seat attaching means can be resorted to; however, for safetys sake the mounting arrangement should be such that the attachment is readily released from its seat mounting.

Swinging pivot connections 26 attach the lower ends of the backrest supporting uprights 20 and the rearward ends of the base members 22 to one another for limited swinging movement relative to one another. As will be observed most clearly in FIGURE 2, the swinging movement is such that the base members 22 can be swung upward and generally parallel with the upright members 20 but that their lowermost swinging movement is limited to their extension at a comfortable seating angle to the upright members 20, usually somewhat more than to provide a backrest angle for the backrest supporting uprights 20. While this limited movement could be accomplished in many Ways, a simple and effective means of carrying out this limited movement is illustrated in the pivotal connections 26 wherein the length of the swinging radius from the pivot pin 27 of each pivot connection 26 is exceeded by the lowermost portion of the upright members 26 whereby these lowermost portions serve as an automatic stop to the downward swinging movement of the base members 22.

Projecting forwardly from the upright members in the portion thereof between the back rests and the base members 22 are the arms 16 of the combination seat attachment and life preserver. These arms 16 comprise rigidly mounted projecting portions 28 extending forwardly from the upright members 29 and having at their forward ends limited movement swinging pivot connections 30, which are similar to those previously designated as 26, these pivot connections being so arranged as to permit swinging movement of the buoyant forward rest portions 32 of the arms upwardly from a horizontal position toward a position generally parallel to or at an acute angle, with respect to the backrest 14-. The rigidly attached arm portions 28 of the arms 16, when the device is used as a life preserver, rest under the arm pits of the user with the forward 'buoyant portions 32 of the arms 16 being swingable upwardly to provide forward buoyant support for the body of the user much in the manner of the chest portion of a life jacket,fso that the head of the user cannot be pushed sufficiently forward by the buoyancy of theback member 14 and to immerse the face of the wearer, particularly if he is in an unconscious condition or otherwise incapable of holding his head upright. v

To further facilitate the combination utility of the attachment 10, safetybelt attachment 34 is provided, the

jadditi 'oirally shoulder straps 36 can be provided attached permanently at opposite top side edges of the backrest 14, or insome other convenient position, for adjustment of the positioning of the buoyant forward rests 32 in theinlife preserving position; snap fastening elements 38 are provided at spaced points along the straps 36 to snap fasten with cooperating snap fasteners 39 on the'ends of the buoyant forward rest 32 of the arms 16 so these arm rests can be retained in 'themost comfortable upwardly tilted position as buoyant chest supporters. a I

.Referring now to FIGURE 3, wherein, there 'is disclosed a front view of the device mounted in. its seat attaching position, the lowermost end portions of the uprights 20' are shown to be outwardly offset as at 40 so that the base members 22 may be swung upwardly outside of the buoyant arm rests 32 to facilitate storage of the device. The actual manner of storage and the position the attachment it? assumes for storage or transportation are illustrated in FIGURE 4 wherein the base members 22 are shown folded upwardly to a position generally parallel to arid in touching engagementwith the upright members 20 of the attachment 10. Further,

and the rest is automatic in the sense that positioning and buoyant support by the attachment naturally result from such movement.

As is apparent particularly from FIGURE 5, the buoyant arm rest portions 32 are of such a nature that even when they are in their arm rest position they may somewhat overlie the forward portion of the body of a user of the seating device thereby minimizing the chances of ineffective positioning of the device whereby the'head of the wearer might possibly become submerged through unconsciousness or for other reasons, such as panic. Thus, upon submerging of the vessel on which the attachment is mounted, the upward swinging movement of the forward buoyant portions 32 of the arm rests occurs naturally to overlie the chest and shoulder area of the wearer or user 42 and prevent forward slumping of the head to a possible drowning position. Upon recovery of consciousness, or passage of panic, or simply in the operation of the attachment, to assure most comfortable and secure positioning of the attachment it as a life pre- 7 server, the straps 36 may beadjusted by means of the co- 7 operating snap fastener elements 38 and 39 to adjust the angle of the buoyant portions 32 of the arms 16 to give both an over and under shoulder attachment of the preserver attachment 10 to the body of the wearer. The device, in efiect, readily converts to a life preserver of the life jacket or life vest type which has been found to be a most successful type of life preserving'arrangement.

The attachrn'entis furtherbenefitedthrough its buoyancy in that it forms a very comfortable, easily mounted, readily stored, seating attachment addition for the boardlike seats 12 found on boats, stadiums, and the like. It has a' most significant advantage in forming an almost foolproof life preserver arrangement even upon panic of a wearer who is terrified of water since the attachment automatically assumes its life preserving position upon subthe forwardly extending buoyant arm rests 32 of the device are also folded upwardly at an angle somewhat more than vertical so that the attachment 1G in its folded position is essentially flat except for the forwardly projecting stem portions 28 of the arms 16. This folding arrangementenables ready storability' even on small boats of these seat attachments and, of course, greatly facilitates delivery and packaging of the attachments.

, V In FIGURE 5, the attachment 16 is shown in position buoyantly supporting a wearer 42 illustrated in dotted;

outline, to maintain the head of the wearer above the merges, the wearer 42 of the convertible seat attachment and life preserver 10 is automatically positioned for the 'seat attachment to convert to a lireprese'rver. Thus, all theuser 42 has to do with the seat attachment in the eventthe boat on which he is riding submer es is to. simplygrasp the base members 22 with his hands merging of the vessel upon which it is attached. event the safetyl'belt 34 is attached it is almost impossible for even the most terrified passenger to shed the seat attachrrient in his fiailings abou. J V i It is to be understood that the, configuration andstyling details of the attachment illustrated are exemplary only and may be varied as desired. The height of the rigid arm projections 28 above the base of the attachment may also be varied as may the shape and seating positioning of the buoyant forward portions while the attachment is being used as a seat. For example, fisherman ordinarily do not desire arm rests as these interfere with free movement of the arms while fishing; thus, the buoyant portions 32 may be so mounted as to fold back alongside rigid projections 28 or to some other out-of-the-way position. g

It is to be understood that the specific embodiment of the invention shown and described is illustrative only of the principles of the invention, and that any other embodiments of a more elaborate and complex, and even of a simpler nature, are possible.

I claim: 7 I

1.'A combination seat attachment and life preserver for backless seating boards and the like, said attachment comprising a seat back and arms carried on a supporting structure, said supporting structure including means for releasably mounting said attachment on a board like seat, said seat back including'buoy'ant means to provide buoyant support across the back of auser when used as a lifepreserver, said arms including buoyant portions to provide buoyant supp'ort forwardly of the chest of a user' upward movement to a life preserving position forwardly of the chest of auser. A

. 1 2. A combination scat attachment and. life-preserver,

' said attachment comprising aibase member for releasably mounting said attachment on a backl ess seating board or r the like, an upright backrest supporting structure, a buoy- In' the ant back rest carried by said upright structure, arms projecting forwardly from said upright structure, said arms including projecting arm portions rigidly attached to said upright structure and extending forwardly therefrom, and further including buoyant portions swingably attached to the forward ends of said projecting portions for swinging movement upward from a horizontal arm rest position.

3. A combination seat attachment and life-preserver, said attachment comprising a base member for releasably mounting said attachment on a backless seating board or the like, an upright back rest supporting structure, a buoyant back rest carried by said upright structure, arms projecting forwardly from said upright structure, said arms ineluding projecting arm portions rigidly attached to said upright structure and projecting forwardly therefrom, and further including buoyant forward rest portions swingably attached to the forward ends of said projecting arm portions for swinging movement upward from a horizontal arm rest position, and belt means for attaching said attachment to a user thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,480,402 Elston Aug. 30, 1949 2,841,207 Sweeney July 1, 1958 

